Contributed by Christina Holstein
Chairman of the Western Front Association in Luxembourg




Lt. Col. Emile Driant
Before His Command Post, Bois des Caures


Emile Driant was born on 11th September, 1855, at Neufchâtel-sur-Aisne in the Champagne region of France. His father, who was a justice of the peace, would have liked to see his son follow him into the law but following the defeat of France at Sedan in 1870 Emile decided to follow a military career. He entered Saint-Cyr in October 1875 and two years later joined the 54th R.I. With that regiment he carried out largely cartographical work and spent some time serving on the eastern borders of France, learning the life of troops in the front line.

In March 1883 he was posted to the 4th Reg. of Zouaves at Tunis where he became staff officer to the controversial General Boulanger who was then commanding the occupation division. Driant followed Boulanger to Paris when the latter became Minister for War and in 1888 he married Marcelle Boulanger, the General's younger daughter.

By 1892, when Emile Driant was promoted captain, he was already well known through his position as Boulanger's assistant in the War Ministry, his marriage and his first literary works. Lively and intelligent, he was interested in the latest scientific and technological inventions, e.g. ballooning and the bicycle, and quick to look for their possible military applications. His literary output was enormous and included newspaper articles, magazines, reviews and, most importantly, novels. Under the pseudonym of "Capitaine Danrit", Driant wrote a series of popular novels for young people in the style of Jules Verne such as ""La Guerre de Demain" or "Histoire d'une famille de soldats". His aim in writing them was to restore patriotic feeling among the young and his heroes were always motivated by a love for France and devotion to duty.


Driant's Grave Where He Fell, February 22, 1916

In 1899 Driant was given command of the 1st Battalion de Chasseurs (Light Infantry). He was very proud of his Chasseurs and was a popular commander but in 1905, feeling that his career would go no further, he resigned from the army and thereafter devoted his time to journalism and speaking engagements in order to "serve the army from the outside".

After being elected Député (Member of Parliament) for Nancy (E. France) in 1910, Emile Driant increased his efforts to strengthen national defence. He had no clearly defined political doctrine but defended the values of Catholicism and patriotism and wished to see France regain the lost provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. When war broke out in August 1914 he eagerly re-entered the army and was given the command of the 56th and 59th Battalions of Chasseurs but he still kept up his parliamentary activity and was, among other things, involved in the drafting of legislation to create the Croix de Guerre. His firm belief in the principle of parliamentary control of the armies led him to warn the President directly about the deficiencies of organisation in certain sectors of the Front, for which he incurred the wrath of General Joffre.


American Soldiers from NATO Visit Driant's Command Post

When the Battle of Verdun began on 21st February, 1916, Driant's 1200 Chasseurs were holding positions in the Bois des Caures to the north of the city. They fought there in the face of overwhelming odds and a bombardment of unparalleled intensity until, during the afternoon of 22nd, outflanked on both sides, Col. Driant ordered his few remaining men to withdraw in the direction of Beaumont. It was during that withdrawal that Driant himself was killed at the southern edge of the wood. Since the men with him had been taken prisoner by the Germans, firm news of his death did not reach Paris until 3rd April. Some time after that Mme. Driant received a letter from Germany informing her that her husband had been honourably buried and that his grave would be carefully tended until peace returned.

In holding their positions and fighting to the end Col. Emile Driant and his Chasseurs, outflanked and overwhelmed, sacrificed their lives in order to slow the progress of the enemy. He is proudly remembered by the people of Verdun who still commemorate the fighting in the Bois des Caures with a ceremony held on 21st February every year.

Sources and Thanks: Photos from regular contributors Tony Langley and Ray Menzer.



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